Things Go Well For Debut Pair

Last updated : 12 February 2015 By Ed_ScottishFitba

C:WindowsTempphp454D.tmpCeltic manager Ronny Deila was pleased to see his side restore their three point lead ushion at the top of the Premiership table with a comfortable 3-0 win at Partick Thistle with Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong enjoying goal-scoring debuts. The former opened the scoring in the first minute at Firhill and his former Dundee United team-mate Armstrong added a second before half-time with Stefan Johansen rounding off the win just after the hour.

Aftre the game Deila said: "I’m very happy, it was a very difficult pitch to play on. I think the performances were good and we won in a good way. It couldn’t be much better (for Mackay-Stevens and Armstrong) – it’s good to get the early goal, both of them scored, and it was a good performance as well.  We have seen it in training that they are good players. They have things that maybe we didn’t have so much of in the team and you can see that we get more difficult to read when we have players like them on the pitch as well. It gives us extra options which is excellent. We knew they could make an impact and they will get even better in a good team like Celtic."

Mackay-Steven said: "I was delighted to finally get on the pitch and it was nice to get the early goal as it settles the nerves. I think the team played very well. It was good team performance in every department." Armstrong added: "Gary got us off to the perfect start and I think we in control for most of the game and I am just delighted to get the three points."

Celtic have now gone eight games without losing a goal - but Thistle manager Alan Archibald felt his side were denied a clear penalty last night when Stuart Bannigan had a shot blocked by Emilio Izaguirre but the referee Crawford Allan was unmoved. Archibald said: "It was handball. I have had two or three given against us this season but we don't let them and we don't expect to get them. We have had one penalty this season. I wasn't expecting to get another one against Celtic. It is hard for referees, I wish they would take the grey area away because it is as frustrating for them as for us. Our keeper was fouled in the build-up to their third goal but the ref seemed to think it was an advantage for us. I don't know why. It is just one of those decisions you get with referees, usually against Celtic but it is vital that you make Celtic work for their goals but we gave them their goals."